Highly plasticized laminated vinyl fabric

Abstract

A laminated vinyl fabric and a process for making the same, said fabric comprising a sheet of vinyl resin with which a major proportion of plasticizer is combined, said fabric also having been made by extrusion and promptly thereafter having been adhesively laminated at a relatively low temperature with a knitted fabric at substantially only wrap pressure. In one form, the knitted fabric is of an interlock double-knit construction with one surface thereof having a relatively small number of contacts with said vinyl sheet via an intermediate adhesive.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A laminated vinyl fabric having excellent suppleness, leather-like hand and drape characteristics comprising: (a) an extruded sheet comprising a vinyl resin and a plasticizer therefor present in substantially equal proportions, said sheet being of a thickness sufficient to made said sheet self-supporting and having a first surface thereof embossed prior to lamination,   (b) An aqueous adhesive on the opposite surface of said vinyl sheet, and   (c) A knitted backing fabric having one surface adhered to said adhesive on said opposite surface at a maximum temperature of about 220° F., said fabric having a structure such that only superficial portions of said one surface of said backing fabric contact said adhesive, said superficial portions substantially not penetrating into said opposite surface;   (d) said knitting backing fabric being a double knit construction.   
     
     
       2. A laminated vinyl fabric according to claim 1 wherein said knitted backing fabric is of an interlock double knit construction. 
     
     
       3. A laminated vinyl fabric according to claim 1 wherein said interlock double knit construction is as shown in FIG. 2. 
     
     
       4. A laminated vinyl fabric according to claim 1 wherein said interlock double knit construction conforms to the stitch-needle diagram of FIG. 3. 
     
     
       5. The laminated vinyl fabric of claim 1 wherein the knitted backing fabric is comprised of a plurality of different courses which are repeated in a regular fashion, the loops of selected courses being knitted so that they do not engage the vinyl. 
     
     
       6. The laminated vinyl fabric of claim 5 wherein alternating loops of certain courses are longer than the remaining loops of said certain courses, said longer loops being knitted so that they do not engage the vinyl.